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"Ask Bob"The following is a compilation of questions that I am asked every season. If you have a question that isn't addressed here, send a note to bob@trinitydesignlandscapes.com and I will personally respond to your question.
What is the best way to plant my tree or shrub? Please check our Planting Page What is the most of important thing to ensure that my plant thrives? Soil Preparation is the most
critical factor for plant survival. No matter how robust your plant or the
location you are planting it, if the soil isn't properly prepared, there is a
chance the specimen will not survive. It is also important to first determine whether your plant choice is a shade or sun loving specimen. What are those Zone numbers on the plants I order or buy? The USDA has created Hardiness Zones which designate the areas in which the particular plant will thrive. In other words, Tropical plants like Gardenias and Bougainvilleas will not survive in Chicago's Zone 5 winters but need to be over-wintered indoors. Similarly, some varieties of certain plants have been bred for certain zones and will not do well if planted outside that zone. It is important to observe the proper hardiness zones when selecting and purchasing plants in order to ensure successful growth. When watering, the idea is to water long enough for the roots to establish themselves deeply. That way the plant will have a better chance of surviving a dry spell. In order to promote root depth and growth, water at least 1/2 inch of water each time. To verify this amount, place a pie tin or shallow pan in the area being watered and measure the depth at 20 minute intervals. Once you have established the amount and the timing, you can set your sprinkler and forget about it until your timer goes off! What annuals do well in shade? Just because your outdoor space has shade doesn't mean it can't sustain flowering plants. If you have a heavily shaded area (less than 2 hours of direct sunlight per day) you may want to stick to Impatiens and Coleus. There are many varieties of Impatiens with some glorious color blooms. Coleus plants have colorful leaves that add interest to shady areas. Other plants to consider: By mid-summer my Hosta leaves look like Swiss cheese. What causes this? The cause is most likely slugs. The solution is either to sprinkle diatomaceus earth or crushed egg shells around the plant, or to fill a small dish full of beer (they will drown in the beer). A more environmentally toxic solution would be to purchase "slug bait" at your local garden supply store. Should I fertilize?To encourage and enhance
blooms on you annuals, try a water soluble 15-30-15 fertilizer every 2 weeks. Dead-heading is the common term for pinching off dead flowers. By doing this you will encourage the plant to trigger new buds and keep annuals from going to seed. Regular dead-heading keeps your annuals blooming the entire season and may encourage a second flush of blooms on some perennials. like Salvia. Conifers may
be pruned any time of year, but pruning during the dormant season may minimize
sap and resin flow from cut branches. Hardwood trees
and shrubs without showy flowers: prune in the dormant season to easily
visualize the structure of the tree, to maximize wound closure in the growing
season after pruning, to reduce the chance of transmitting disease, and to
discourage excessive sap flow from wounds. Recent wounds and the chemical scents
they emit can actually attract insects that spread tree disease. In particular,
wounded elm wood is known to attract bark beetles that harbor spores of the
Dutch elm disease fungus, and open wounds on oaks are known to attract beetles
that spread the oak wilt fungus. Take care to prune these trees during the
correct time of year to prevent spread of these fatal diseases. Contact your
local tree disease specialist to find out when to prune these tree species in
your area. Usually, the best time is during the late fall and winter. Flowering
trees and shrubs: these should also be pruned during the dormant season for the
same reasons stated above; however, to preserve the current year's flower crop,
prune according to the following schedule: §
Trees and shrubs that flower in early spring (redbud, dogwood, etc.)
should be pruned immediately after flowering (flower buds arise the year before
they flush, and will form on the new growth). §
Many flowering trees are susceptible to fireblight, a bacterial disease
that can be spread by pruning. These trees, including many varieties of
crabapple, hawthorn, pear, mountain ash, flowering quince and pyracantha, should
be pruned during the dormant season. Check with your county extension agent or a
horticulturist for additional information. § Trees and shrubs that flower in the summer or fall always should be pruned during the dormant season (flower buds will form on new twigs during the next growing season, and the flowers will flush normally). Why does my lawn look healthy one day then look like a mine field the next? If your lawn looks like mine field with deep gouges, you probably have grubs. Very simply, grubs are beetle larvae and they do damage in two ways. 1) They will eat the roots of the grass plant itself. As such, although your lawn can look healthy one minute, once the mower passes over it, there is nothing anchoring the plant and it will simply pull out. 2) Grubs are an attractive meal for skunks, raccoons and other varmint. These animals will simply dig through your lawn to get at these tasty morsels until all you have left is a mine field! There is an organic long term solution and there is chemical solution. The organic solution involves purchasing and sowing nematodes into your lawn. This solution will take several seasons to establish. The faster, less environmentally friendly approach, is to spread an anti-grub pesticide like Grub-X into your lawn. What is the best way to get rid of creeping charlie? Creeping charlie (Glechoma hederacea), is an aggressive perennial weed that thrives in moist, shady areas of the lawn and garden. The best way to get rid of it is to avoid giving it a foothold by keeping your lawn healthy. Once it has established itself, it is possible to pull or rake out the plants by hand and re-seeding the spot with grass seeds. Some people have also advocated using a Borax solution to eliminate the weed, but it should be noted that using the solution may also cause toxicity in the surrounding plants and grass. Is Spring the only time to plant? As long as your plant material is properly installed and watered, you can plant any time. Planting can be started in Spring as soon as the ground has thawed and throughout the year until the ground is too frozen to dig! When can I split my perennials? In general, the best time is when they are not flowering such as early Spring and in the Fall. If you are not sure, call your local garden center. |
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